Pelargonium plant named ‘PEQZ0086’

ABSTRACT

A new Pelargonium plant named ‘PEQZ0086’ particularly distinguished by vibrant red-purple colored inflorescences with semi-double florets, held above dark green foliage, on a vigorous semi-trailing plant.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pelargonium interspecific.

Varietal denomination: ‘PEQZ0086’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Pelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium interspecific, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PEQZ0086’.

‘PEQZ0086’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘PEQZ0086’ has vibrant red-purple colored inflorescences with semi-double florets, held above dark green foliage, on a vigorous semi-trailing plant.

‘PEQZ0086’ originates from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program made in July 2016, in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented plant of P. x interspecific parentage identified as ‘PEZ-AZ3272-07V’ with larger florets and a more upright plant habit when compared to ‘PEQZ0086’.

The male parent of ‘PEQZ0086’ was a patented plant of P. interspecific parentage, identified as ‘PEQZ0015’ and described U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,709 with lighter green leaves when compared to ‘PEQZ0086’. The resultant seed was sown in December 2016.

‘PEQZ0086’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2016 in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘PEQZ0086’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in June 2016 in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in May 2017 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘PEQZ0086’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘PEQZ0086’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in the European Union on Jun. 11, 2021, No. 2021/1578. ‘PEQZ0086’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effective filing date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘PEQZ0086’ directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Pelargonium as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘PEQZ0086’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1, one flowering plant of the new variety and in FIG. 2, a close-up of an inflorescence.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in early June 2021 under natural light. These plants were approximately 16 weeks old and were grown in a 12 cm pots, in a greenhouse trial. The plants shown in the photographs were about 16 weeks old growing in a 12 cm pot in a greenhouse. The photographs were taken in June 2021.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘PEQZ0086’ AND A MOST SIMILAR VARIETY ‘PECZ0017’ (U.S. Plant ‘PEQZ0086’ Pat. No. 31,626) Flowering time: Earlier Later Plant habit: More stretchy More compact

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Semi-spreading and semi-upright             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—13-17 cm.         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—26-32 cm.         -   Plant width.—30-40 cm. -   Roots:     -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—15-18 days at about 22             degrees C.         -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—21-23 days at 22             degrees C.         -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.         -   Color.—RHS N155B but whiter. -   Foliage:     -   -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Immature leaf, color upper surface.—Closest to RHS 147A.         -   Immature leaf, lower surface.—Closest to RHS 147B.         -   Mature leaf, color upper surface.—Closest to RHS 147A.         -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—Closest to RHS 147B.         -   Length.—6.5-7.5 cm.         -   Width.—7-8.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Cordate.         -   Base shape.—Cordate.         -   Sinus of mature leaf.—Very shallow.         -   Leaf base openness.—Immature leaves closed, mature leaves             moderately open.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Slightly dentate.         -   Texture upper side.—Hirsute.         -   Texture lower side.—Hirsute.         -   Leaf zonation color.—Only during high solar radiation RHS             178B.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 144A, becoming indistinct             towards apex.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 144C, becoming             indistinct.         -   Pattern of veining.—Palmate.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 146B.         -   Petiole length.—6-8.5 cm.         -   Diameter of petiole.—0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Pilose, hirsute, glandular hairs. -   Stem:     -   -   Quantity of branches.—3-5.         -   Color of stem.—RHS 143C.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of stem.—Absent.         -   Length of stem.—9-19 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5-0.7 cm.         -   Length of internodes.—1-4.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Sparsely hirsute, pilose, glandular hairs. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 144A.         -   Length of peduncle.—16-33 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.3-0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Hirsute, glandular hairs.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of peduncle.—Absent. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Color of pedicel.—RHS 178A.         -   Length of pedicel.—1.8-2.5 cm.         -   Diameter of pedicel.—0.15-0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Sparsely pilose, glandular hairs.         -   Pedicel swelling.—Swelling was not observed. -   Bud (just before opening):     -   -   Color.—RHS 46A.         -   Length.—1.2-1.4 cm.         -   Width.—0.6-0.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Umbel; semi-spherical or nearly semi-spherical.         -   Lastingness of individual flowers.—7-9 days at 18° C.             temperature.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—6-12, with 5-12 immature             umbels in various stages.         -   Average total number of buds.—23.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Umbel diameter.—10-12 cm.         -   Umbel depth.—7 cm. -   Corolla:     -   -   Form.—Semi-double.         -   Number of petals.—6-8, 3-5 petaloids.         -   Diameter of flower.—4.5-5.5 cm.         -   Depth of flower.—2-2.5 cm.         -   Side view shape.—Concave.         -   Color upper petals, upper surface.—A complex vibrant red             purple between RHS 61A and RHS 46A, but still with a tinge             of RHS N66 with veins RHS 61A at the base.         -   Color upper petals, lower surface.—A complex vibrant pink             red, close to RHS N66 but darker.         -   Length of upper petals.—2.3-2.7 cm.         -   Width of upper petals.—1.9-2.3 cm.         -   Color lower petals, upper surface.—A complex vibrant red             purple between RHS 61A and RHS 46A, but still with a tinge             of RHS N66.         -   Color lower petals, lower surface.—A complex vibrant pink             red, close to RHS N66 but darker.         -   Markings on upper petals.—None.         -   Markings on lower petals.—None.         -   Length of lower petals.—2.5-2.7 cm.         -   Width of lower petals.—2.0-2.2 cm, petaloids variably             smaller and with variable shape.         -   Petal shape.—Obovate to spathulate.         -   Apex shape.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Petal texture.—Papillose on both surfaces. -   Calyx:     -   -   Number of sepals.—5-6.         -   Color of sepals.—RHS 185A, apex RHS 144A.         -   Length of sepals.—1-1.4 cm.         -   Width of sepals.—0.3-0.5 cm.         -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate to linear.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margins.—Mostly fused.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.         -   Lower surface.—Glandular hairs, hirsute.         -   Sepal flexing.—Mostly unflexed sepals. The narrowest sepals             might flex moderately. -   Reproductive organs: -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil.—RHS 59A.         -   Length.—0.8-1.0 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 59A.         -   Style length.—0.4-0.5 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 59A.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 59A.         -   Ovary length.—0.5-0.6 cm.         -   Ovary diameter.—0.2 cm. -   Androecium:     -   -   Number of stamens.—6-9 with 1-5 staminoids.         -   Color of filaments.—RHS N155A towards apex RHS 71D.         -   Length filaments.—0.6-0.7 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 171D.         -   Length of anthers.—0.3 cm.         -   Color of pollen.—RHS N169A.         -   Pollen amount.—Scarce.         -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been determined to date.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been determined to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Pelargonium plant named ‘PEQZ0086’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 